Search form

What direction will the winds of change take?

News & Results

Jaimie Fuller and Greg LeMond at the Change Cycling Now press conference

Change Cycling Now summit group discussions

What direction will the winds of change take?

Is change in the wind or is it the sweet scent of revenge?

After a period of time truth and reconciliation will end and riders found positive for doping will be severely dealt with. And the UCI “shall develop a voice which is not dictatorial and aggressive but recognizes strong leadership which promotes confidence, trust, unity and transparency.” That’s code language for “McQuaid must go.”

In my opinion Change Cycling Now is a good start to the needed process of changing cycling. The CCN project has some powerful people involved, but there are some legitimate questions that must be asked.

All of the attendees make money from cycling. Not a bad thing, but would this lead to bias?

How many of these people have an axe to grind against the UCI or Lance Armstrong and are they using this as a method to strike back?

Representatives for the fans of cycling are two people who are on Twitter, one of them being anonymous. Does this mean you have to be on Twitter to be recognized as a fan of cycling? While I follow both those people on the micro-blogging social media platform and they seem like decent people who are fans of the sport, I’m not sure that qualifies a person to represent the fans of cycling in general. That’s a big responsibility. There’s no way I would dare take on the mantle of representative of cycling fans. In fact I’m not sure who fits that bill.

Since the Change Cycling Now press conference wrapped up I’ve gotten press releases and news from the weekend’s pow-wow. One news item that grabbed my attention is that LeMond is willing to be the the future president of the UCI if asked. As Velonation’s Shane Stokes points out LeMond has no experience with this type of role. Being president of any organization, from governing a country to your local Parent Teacher Association, requires a certain degree of people skills to get anything done. Does Mr. LeMond hold those skills? LeMond goes on to say that Michael Ashenden could be a better choice or Dick Pound, former president of WADA who has led a large organization.

I do recognize Change Cycling Now is a start and there will undoubtedly be some growing pains. Their immediate goal is admirable when you boil it down: Cycling that we can watch that is legitimate and real and not ruled by the few in their quest for power and control. Change Cycling Now is trying to gain supporters through social media and is trying to drive people to sign their online petition to remove McQuaid – a fine idea. Kimmage pointed out that some media have been complicit in building the false Armstrong legend – another valid point. But where to go from here?

Without a doubt the momentum for change is there. The Kimmage Fund was proof of that as cycling fans and other people donated money to support the journalist in his legal battle against the UCI (as of this morning the ChipIn for Kimmage has passed US$92,000).

And lastly, for now, a complete over hall to Neil consists of removing 2 people, and one of them is only an honorary position. While it might be a warranted action, it isn't an over hall, the system which allowed these people to control the professional cycling industry still exists. An over hall would consist of developing a separate "autonomous" department in the UCI which reviews, verifies and signs off on any and all investigations, eliminating payoffs.